Fruit-grading machine.



PJ'ATENTEDI OCT. 23, 1906.

M. E. WETTENHALL. FRUIT GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1905. nmmwnn we. 23. 1906.

2 SHEETSSHBET l.

No. 833,991. PATENTED OCT. 23, 1 906.

' M. E. WETTE'NHALL.

FRUIT GRADING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIQN FILED 3.20; 1905. RENEWED AUG. 2a. 1906. 2 sHEETssEEET z.

26 l I 6 1 I 41 1E 2 i '1 T z 7 23 0 I 20 i: i' JI' 401.4% wbjmLE V mmmwwm UNITED srA-T s PATENT OFFICE.

I 1 AUSTRALIA. v

- FRUlT-GRAD IN G- MACHINE.

Application filed April 20, 1906.

To all zbhorrt it may concern: 1

.Be it known that I, MARCUS EDWY WET-- TENHALL, a citizen of the 'flommonwealth of Australia, and a resident of Glen Holford,

Pomona, near Stawell, in the State of Victoria, Australia, have invented new anduseful Fruit-Gradin Machines, of which the folcheap and efl'ective machine for gra pccordi lowing is a spec' cation. I

The object of my inventionv is to rovide a ding fruit.

In order that my invention may be readily understood, I will describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 1s a pers ective view, and Fig. 2 a plan, of a fruit-gra ing machine constructed to my invention, while Fig..3' is a vertica longitudinal. sectionon line a a, Fig. 2; and Fi 4 is a vertical transverse section on line b Figs. 2 and 3. Figs. 5 and6 are views of 'a ,certain detail in the construction of my invention. v r

The same reference-numerals indicate the same or corresponding arts in all the figures.

My invention inclu es two side frames 1 and 2, the'height andlen th of which will vary with conditions.- T ey are situated some distance from each .other'and united by cross-pieces or frames 3 and 4. i f

7 At the discharge end of the machine is a drum 5, which extends between the two side frames 1 and2. Toone end of this drum 5 isattached a crank-handle, whereby or by I other meanssuch, for instance, as the chain-and-s rocket gear shown in the drawtielt-pulley-the said drum, here-- inafter called the main driving-drum, is rotated,lor by suitable means the said drum may be rotated from the other end of the ma-' chine'. Upon this drum 5 is a pinion 6; gearing into a corresponding pinion 7, situated upon an auxiliary driving-drum 8, which is contiguous to the said main driving-drum 5.

' Extending between the side frames 1 and 2 at the feeding end of the machine is a crossroller 10, hereinafter called the inner roller. Also extending across the machine between the side frames is a cross-roller 11, hereinafter called the tension-roller. This roller is adjustable in and presses downward upon belts hereinafter described in order to keep them tight. Itis supported at the outer ends by links 12, pivoted to the side frames, so that it-can be ad'usted in a vertical plane. Other links 9 epend from the Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Oct. as, 1906.

humani m 23,1906. sol-aim. 81,802.

axle this'tensiomroller fll and connect it by a hookand cross-piece, as shown, or other wise to a weighted lever 13, whose tendency is to always keep theroller 11 pressing) downere ward upon the belt or belts, and th y keep them tlgh't.

Around the inner rollers :1, 10, and Hon the feeding and dischar' e end of the machine and passin underneat the driving-roller 5 and over t 'e auxiliary driving-roller 8 is an endless belt 14; Through this belt 14 are perforations of any size required.

At the feeding and'discharge' end above'h each roller-5 and 10, before referred to, are

cross-rollers. 15 and 16. These are called the lower intermediate 1 cross-rollers! I Around the lower m'termediate cross-rollers and around, the inner or, lower band or belt 14, before described, is another band-"or belt 17, hereinafter called the lower intermediate belt. This latter, which-is loner with holes of a lower belt.

, than the inner band or'belt L4, is provi ed larger size than those in said At the feeding-and discharge end -and above eachintermediate roller 15 and 16, before described, other rollers 18 and 19 are placed, around which a belt 20 asses in a similar manner to the belt' 17. A ovethese rollers 18 and 19 are similar rollers 21 and 22.

These are called the upper or *outer r'ollers, and around them and the three bands 14,

17, and 20 before alluded to asses an endless band or belt 23, hereina er called the 1 outer or ,u er band. Through this band-or belt, w 1ch is longer than those before mentioned, are perforations, which are larger than those in the receding belts, the whole forming a series f forated bandsor belts adapted to be revo ved round the rollers. Near the'feedin end of the machine transverse guide-boar s 40 are o superimposed erplaced, oneabove each band'or belt. These uide-boards have openings 41, as shown in igs. 4, 5, and 6,-,through which any fruit which is too large to pass through the holes in the belt will be drawn by the movement of the latter. a 1

Each 0 ening 41 is provided with a flexible tab 42, 0 leather or other suitable material, which is weighted at its lower end to prevent any fruit passing throughthe opening 41 unless it is retained in one of the holes in said band or belt.

Longitudinal partitions 43, which extend from each guide-board 40 to the feeding end of the machine, are rovided to kee thefruit over each,res ect1ve line of holes in the bands or belts, sai partitions having battens 44 fixed to their lower edges in order to guide the fruit more effectively.

At one side of the machine a door 45 is 'pro'videdto. enable the'operation of the machine to be watched, the said door having guiding-battens 44 fixed to it in the same manner as the partitions 43.

Near the discharge end of the machine and beneath the upper intermediate and lower bands or belts 23, 20, and17 and 14 are placed or slopedelevatinglates'24. These are for raising ently out o the holes or perforations the uit which goes onl artly throu h the bands as the said fruit is over t e-- late by the band. The fruit when raised ro ls gently off into receivers or dis-,

The fruit on the 1 and will thereby be-diverted so that it will chute 26, who

sized and rejected fruit.

roll .into a discharge-chute at the side of the machine.

At the feeding end of the machine and above the up er band is placed a feedingh is hinged at 27 so that it can be adjusted b means of rack 28 to any desired slope. t the discharge end of the machine. and in a line with-the upper band is placed a discharge-chute 29*for the largest 't and three su erimposed chutes 30, 31, and 32, respectivel y, to carry off the second, third, and fourth grade fruit, while a fifth chute 33 is providedto discharge theunder- Each of these ehutes, with the exce tion of the last, is provided with a hinged i iuit-case carrier 34, designed to hold an export or other fruit case in such a position that-the fruit will roll downa the side of the case.

Each carrier is counterweighted, so that'the'case is' graduallylowere into an upright position as it is filled, thus saving the fruits from getting-bruised as the roll in 'and withal allowing the case to be led to the top, The counterwei hts 35 employed for this purpose are attac ed to the end of a. curved guide 36 by a cord 37, which passes. over two blocks 38 and 39, as shown in Fig. 3. These fruit-case carriers 34- are constructedfin two ieces, one of which is slotted, so that it can e bolted to the other piece in any desired position; as shown in Fi 3, so that the length of the carrier can be ad justed to hold any-sized ease up close to, the end of the chute.

v I do not bind myself to the number of endless bands or belts, the material of.whichr rawn they are made, nor to the means ofadjusting the tension on the same, since these will vary with conditions.

The cycle of operations with my invention is as follows: The feeding-chute 26 is filled with fruit and the bands or belts are set in motion. The fruit is then passed on to the u per band or belt 23. Some pass onwards to t e discharge-chute 28 and some fall through onto the first intermediate band 20. Some pass onwards from this band and out at chute 30 and some fall though the holes or perof the perforations of the bands and the number of the said bands. The first fruit which passes down any particular chute are received in a. case which is practically lying on its side, so that said fruit rolls gently to the bottom of the case, and as the weight of fruit in the case increases the counterweight is drawn up and the case becomes more and more upright until it-is full.

What I claim as my invention, and desire .to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of driving mechanism; a series of grading-belts, all of which pass around a pair of main rollers and each ofwhich pass around a separate 'pair of supplementary rollers; and said :main and supplementary rollers.

, 2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a' plurality of pairs of rollers arranged one above the other; a series of grading-belts which contact for a portion of their length with one another and which for the remainder of their length are separatedby said rollers; and means for moving said .belts.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a perforated grading-belt and means for driving the same, of a perforated cross-piece throu h which passes fruit too large to pass throu fisaid belt.

4. In a machine of t e class described, the combination with a 'perforated grading-belt and means for driving the same, of a perforated cross-piece throu h whichpasses the fruit too large to ass t ough the belt; and means for contro ling the openings in said cross-piece.

5. Incombination in a machine of the class described, perforated movable grading members and means for drivin the same, with a '6. In combination in a machine of the class perforated endless belt; means for driving the I described, a. lurality of perforated gradingsame; and a station perforated ading belts; inclines stationary plates mounted bemember provided wit automatic osures low said belts and close thereto for rais' for the holes therein and extending trans- 5 the fruit from the holes in said belts; all id versely of said belt and above the same; said 20 means for dri said belts. belt forcing thro h the holes in saidstationv 7. A fruit-gra machine made up of'a ary gra mem r the fruit too large to. perforated endless It; means for pass throug the holes in said belt. the same; and a stationary perforated gra In testimony whereof I have signed my to i member extending transversel of said name to'this specification in the presence of :5 be t and above the same; said be t forcing two subscribing witnesses.

through the holes in said stationary adi MARCUS EDWY WETIENHALL. member the fruit too large to pass t oug Witnesses: the holes in said belt. A. V. WETIENHALL,

r 5 8. A fruit-grading machine made up of a i M. DOOLING. 

